A two-year-old girl rescued by lifeboat volunteers after she and her parents were swept from a Cornish beach and out to sea by huge waves on Friday has died in hospital.
McKayla Bruynius was pronounced dead at Bristol Children’s hospital on Tuesday night, after the incident which also claimed the life of her father, Rudy Bruynius. They are among seven people to have died over the weekend around Britain’s coasts.
The family, who are from Surrey, had been on holiday in Newquay when the incident happened. In a statement released by Devon and Cornwall police, McKayla’s mother gave her thanks to the emergency services, medical workers and members of the public, as she paid tribute to her loved ones.
“I am in disbelief at what has happened. I am so shocked at how quickly the sea condition changed on that day while we were enjoying a family time together in Cornwall,” Lisinda Bruynius said.
“I pray that others can learn from our tragedy as I do not wish for anybody to go through our grief.
“I would like to thank the RNLI, the staff at Royal Cornwall hospital, the staff from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, the emergency services and all the members of public for their generous support and prayers they have given towards my family.
“I would especially like to thank the people of Cornwall for their messages of love and offers of help.
“I will never forget the close community spirit displayed towards us. Please respect our privacy at this really difficult time and allow my sons and I to try to come to terms with what has happened.”
The parents were with McKayla and their two sons on South Fistral beach when a large wave washed three of them into the sea, sparking a rescue operation involving RNLI lifeboats, a coastguard rescue team, the police, the air ambulance and the ambulance service.
According to Devon and Cornwall police Rudy and Lisinda Bruynius were rescued from the water by RNLI lifeguards, who attempted to resuscitate him before he was airlifted to Treliske hospital. McKayla was pulled from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat then flown to Derriford hospital.
The coastguard found the family’s two sons, who had managed to stay on the rocks where the family had been walking. They had sustained minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Treliske.
Investigating officer DC Jarrod Yewen, from Newquay CID, said: “This is a tragic case for all those involved and our thoughts remain with the family at what is a deeply traumatic time for them.
“The deaths are not being investigated as suspicious therefore the police will now prepare a file for HM coroner and an inquest will be held in due course.”
